LATEST UPDATES FOR TODAY: Barnsley and Huddersfield Town are set to compete for another 40-year-old manager with a world record.
LATEST UPDATES TODAY: Barnsley And Huddersfield Town Set To Go Head-To-Head For Another 40-Year-Old Manager With World Record
Michael Duff faces a tough option between his previous team and the Terriers.
Huddersfield Town and Barnsley both want Michael Duff to be their next manager, according to writer Alan Nixon.
In recent weeks, both Yorkshire clubs have announced their league campaign destinations for 2024-25. Huddersfield’s relegation to League One was all but certain before the last day, but it was confirmed when they lost to Ipswich Town, giving them back-to-back promotions from the third tier to the top division.
Barnsley had the opportunity to alter their post-season standings, but they were unable to defeat Bolton Wanderers in the play-off semi-finals, unlike the previous season.
Duff led the Tykes to Wembley in the 22-23 season, and he might possibly lead them again in the next one. However, Huddersfield will have something to say about it, as both clubs seek to recruit the 46-year-old after recently parting ways with their managers.
Michael Duff is interested in returning to Oakwell if offered a job by Huddersfield or Barnsley, according to Nixon’s Patreon post.
The 46-year-old guided them to the 2023 League One play-off final, where they were defeated in the final minute by Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday, before joining Swansea City, who had been looking for him since last summer.
Duff has been linked with the Barnsley management job since the club’s play-off semi-final defeat to Bolton Wanderers this season, when Martin Devaney served as temporary manager.
They sought to select Dominik Thalhammer, but the agreement fell through due to complications with his work visa.
Fellow Yorkshire club Huddersfield have been made aware of Oakwell’s interest, prompting them to renew their interest in the former Northern Ireland international.
According to Nixon, they met with the former Swansea City manager several times before hiring Andre Breitenreiter, but months later, they are still interested in Duff, although with attention from next season’s League One opponents.
Michael Duff’s Barnsley record
The Northern Irish manager joined the Tykes after a successful tenure at Cheltenham Town, where they won League Two in 2020/21.
During his stint at Barnsley, he managed 58 games across all competitions, winning more than 55% of them.
Huddersfield and Barnsley must demonstrate transfer determination to win over Duff.
One big issue that fans of both of these teams have faced in recent years has been a lack of proactivity, or even activity in certain circumstances, in the transfer market.
Huddersfield’s team hasn’t been very strong since Carlos Corberan left in the summer of 2022, with only Neil Warnock’s brilliance keeping them in the second division for a season longer than they probably should have.
Barnsley has traded several of its greatest players in recent seasons, notably the defense trio of Liam Kitching, Mads Andersen, and Bradley Collins last summer.
The money they got from these trades hasn’t been completely used, and they’re about to lose another major player this summer.
Neither of these clubs is one that Duff can’t turn down, so they will both need to demonstrate that they are committed to developing and improving if they want the 46-year-old to be their next manager.
